Originally posted on Reading Every Night: Title: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Author: J.K. Rowling Series: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, #1 Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group Release Date: November 18th 2016 Rating: J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay. When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt’s fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone… Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best. Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader’s bookshelf. – Blurb courtesy of goodreads.com My Thoughts On… …The Plot “Tell me the truth—was that everything that came out of the case?” When the film…

Originally posted on The Renegade Press: “A true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.” -Elizabeth Gilbert I used to believe that I was a man who had been blessed with the gift of intellect. I spent years convinced that I was the smartest person in any room; often closing myself off from the opinions of others. I would gnash my teeth at the slightest hint of conflict, and reveled in my ability to push my own agendas onto others, whilst belittling theirs. Yet while I thought that I was a magnificent mind perpetually on the cusp of achieving great things, the truth is that I was a bit of a dick. I bruised egos, hurt feelings, and let down the people closest to me. During these volatile years, I was tolerable at best, and a horribly bitter person at my worst. I convinced myself that I was the most important individual in…

Originally posted on Millennial: Millennial writer Elizabeth Stoker Bruenig recently spoke at the Yale Political Union, arguing the negative position on the resolution: “religion has no place in government.” Here is a small segment of her speech: I’ll now turn to the idea that religion ought to have a place in government…. There are several reasons why. The first is that law both expresses and enforces certain moral truths which cannot be divorced from broader moral systems, and for the religious — those sharing communities of some overwhelming concern — it’s disingenuous nigh impossible to deliberate on what truths the law should express without citing their religious priors. And this, secondly, allows their co-religionists to hold them responsible for their claims. The tendency of liberal societies to bifurcate religion and politics into two separate spheres — one private, one public — encourages religious participants in political deliberation to equivocate somewhat about their motives and beliefs, as it’s not really possible in that political context to interrogate them. Yet it should be. As long as the religious…

Originally posted on Ramona Crisstea: I wanted to approach a new subject in this post that is different from the usual tips for dressing. I wanted to talk about something that is related to happiness and that is laughter. Through laughter we express out joy. Concentrate on the present moment because it is rich enough. Try to tell yourself that nothing is permanent, even the worries and unhappy moments. In addition to that remember that laughter is essential. The laughter can lit us from inside and help get through a rough day. You can take out of the wardrobe the most unconventional clothes and wear them. Moreover smile while doing so and get out of anonymity. You will see how everyone notices you and that is a good thing. This little thing can be on your list that makes you happy and remember to be grateful and joyful every day. Photo credit: @lepikteur Wat I wore: Watch – Lambretta Vest – HERE Blouse – HERE Sunglasses – HERE Jeans – HERE Bag –HERE Shoes –…

Originally posted on The Musing Quill: Going back in time, I ponder over the last hour. I begin by reading ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller’ because that’s what I am reading presently. At the back of my mind, I’m thinking about what an overrated book ‘Paper Towns’ is. After 18 minutes gone and I know it’s 18 and not 20 or 25 because I am wearing a digital watch. So it is 18 minutes 31 seconds precisely. I realise I’m on page 7. Bam, that’s where I started. I’ve read this sentence more than a dozen times. I am the man who comes and goes between the bar and the telephone booth. Or, rather: that man is called “I” and you know nothing else about him, just as this station is called only “station” and beyond it there exists nothing except the unanswered signal of a telephone ringing in a dark room of a distant city. I read it once more to see if it means anything different. Nothing. I must be out…

Originally posted on The Collective: ? Edited by The Collected Mutineer ***A spoiler free review*** Chewing Gum Review: “Bless Us One and All, Oh Great and Benevolent Queen Bey” This six-episode comedy premiered in the UK on television last year, but Netflix acquired the rights to broadcast as an exclusive in other countries, and boy, am I glad. The cheeky humor, diverse cast and realistic portrayal of sex, religion and relationships (familial and otherwise) in Chewing Gum make it a sleeper hit of the season. During American Thanksgiving, I sat down with my Netflix account determined to watch something that wasn’t a Russian documentary or hockey related, and settled on Chewing Gum. Set in the U.K. housing complex (Tower Estates), the main character, Tracy, is touted as a Beyonce-obsessed shop girl looking to get laid, which, let’s be honest, is right up my alley. Still, the show is about more than blessed Queen Bey; there are issues of class, race, sexuality and religion that make each 22 minute episode stark and laugh-out-loud funny. Led by Michaela Coel, writer and creator of the original play Chewing…

Originally posted on If Destroyed Still True: Friday 6thRhian, Abby and I went swimming today. The main reason behind it was not to swim but to see Ben McFarlane. We did but only briefly. He wasn’t actually doing his pool attending like we’d hoped but he was in the shop part. I saw Rhian’s friend Laura Morgan’s brother, Duncan, today. The rest of his family are in Florida but he’s stayed here with his auntie who’s having a barbeque tomorrow to which we’re invited. Duncan was working in his parent’s café today and Rhian was ordered by Auntie S to introduce us to him, seeing as he’ll be at this barbeque as well, but she didn’t. Instead, Rhian got food and I got a good look at Duncan. I’ve never seen him before but Abby saw him at Christmas and Rhian sees him all the time and they both told me he was minging. So, I went in there expecting him to be some grotesque teenage beast of a boy but in fact I was…

Originally posted on Reverse Retrograde: Dear China, I miss you. I miss you more than I would have thought. Thank you for flipping my narrative on its head. Thank you for the craziness and the chaos that you seamlessly fold into the beauty of your country. Thank you for the challenge. I never would have known that the One Child Policy was not particularly enforced. I would never have known how open and honest and straight-talking your people are. I would never have known that you are such a rich and green and bustling place. I find myself missing you, but I don’t exactly know why. Our time together was not good. We struggled, you and I. I miss your contradictions in the face of those in Korea. I miss your open and entrepreneurial spirit. I believe, honestly, that you alone embody the American Dream these days. Maybe the fact that nobody ever knows what the fuck is going on makes you flexible. You are an ancient civilisation with a modern life. This amateur historian…

Originally posted on Me, Myself and Everything Else: I’ve been thinking about this post for what seems like forever now and am so excited to finally be sharing it! I’m sure I’ll be back with more because we all know I’ll post this and immediately think of another tip… Anyways! Let’s get real, Nick and I love Disney! We always have. We both loved it when we were younger and together, the love has just grown more! Disneyland was one of the first big trips Nick and I ever took together and then Disneyworld was the first really big trip we took together! We always have the best time and now we still pinch ourselves that we live so close! And no, we don’t get sick of it! If anything, it makes it better in my opinion because on days where its just so crazy and we don’t feel like waiting in line, we don’t have to! We can enjoy what we want and then go somewhere else! No stress of super long days! I’ve…